Schiano Second-guessing Himself
December 4th, 2013
As the Bucs prepare for the bungling Bills this coming Sunday, could the Bucs air it out? It’s something to keep in mind when revisiting the words of Bucs commander Greg Schiano on Monday.
Schiano seemed to regret not pulling out a bag of tricks, so to speak, that he had in his hip pocket. They were plays his team had practiced but never used, per Schiano, because he didn’t give the plays a green light.
“We didn’t really ever get it rolling, but still there was opportunities that I needed to inject a ‘Let’s do it now’ because we had some stuff, like we do every week,’’ Schiano said. “I told you we had stuff in the plan and sometimes that can light a fire to your football team and in retrospect I wish I would of stepped in and said ‘Let’s do it now,’ but I didn’t. There were a couple of opportunities where I was close to doing it, but I didn’t and it wasn’t an apprehension or lack of confidence, because I had all the confidence in the world in our guys. I just didn’t think the timing was right. It’s been my experience when you force that stuff it doesn’t really work that well. I just never came to run it, but I do think that those things do sometimes energize your team, but the other thing we have to do is we have to continue to throw the ball down the field because when we do it we’re successful.”
Might be time to use these plays. As Joe has written numerous times before, though the tea leaves suggest Schiano may return next year, it sure wouldn’t hurt to get two (or more) wins to help seal the deal.
Perhaps Schiano not using these plays is an example that Schiano is not panicking and that he thinks his job — for now — is secure?
This should also be a piece of evidence of how, contrary to what some haters will have you believe, Schiano is not calling plays.
December 4th, 2013 at 1:08 pm
I don’t believe Schiano is calling the plays…he said earlier does sometimes decide if he wants a run or pass….but not the actual play.
If he does call the offensive plays, the Glazers know it and he is in much more trouble than most thing.
I believe the Glazers will stick with Schiano….I think he is following a designed plan and much of what has happened has been expected by the owners.
December 4th, 2013 at 1:21 pm
“Perhaps Schiano not using these plays is an example that Schiano is not panicking and that he thinks his job — for now — is secure?”
Here’s how I think it all went down.
When Schiano got hired, he said “I can turn this team around, but since Chip Kelly f*cked you over and you had to hire me late, it’s going to take a few years to get the coaches I want. Arizona won’t let us hire my main man McNulty, and Butch Davis is going to piss around with North Carolina until he gets his full pay”. Then the Glazers said, “You’ve got three years”. And next year he gets everything his little heart desires.
December 4th, 2013 at 1:22 pm
What’s to lose? Besides another game???
December 4th, 2013 at 1:34 pm
From ESPN July 17, 2012 about Butch Davis:
“Since the firing wasn’t “for cause,” it could cost North Carolina $2.7 million by 2015 in contractual obligations unless Davis gets another coaching position.
Well there goes my theory right out the window. He won’t be fully paid until after next season.
December 4th, 2013 at 1:37 pm
Even if we hired Chip Kelly, there still would’ve been a shortage of assistants.
It’s not like Schiano was hired a month after Kelly declined.
December 4th, 2013 at 2:06 pm
@Snook,
I know right? Tell me about it. Sometimes Schiano can say some dumb things. To try to blame Kelly for all this is ridiculous.
December 4th, 2013 at 2:17 pm
Glazers could give Davis $3 mil in year one to get him to do it. Or set it up as a signing bonus situation. Bonuses are not limited to players.
December 4th, 2013 at 2:28 pm
@Joe:
“This should also be a piece of evidence of how, contrary to what some haters will have you believe, Schiano is not calling plays.”
That may be the case, and I commend him for giving this responsibility to his coordinators and not being controlling. But he is ultimately responsible, right? So when he sees his DC call freaking endless line stunts, should it take 8 weeks to notice and change it? (then go back to it once they have a little success…).
Or how long does it take Schiano to notice our rookie Glennon is throwing over 40 passes a game before he intervenes? I don’t think that is “hating”, it is pointing out a disturbing fault. Hating is looking for reasons, legit or not, to be negative.
Sorry for being picky about your use of “hating”; he just drives me crazy sometimes.
December 4th, 2013 at 2:30 pm
i hate using the bag of tricks to beat guys.
Didnt we win in Detroit without the bag of tricks?
We should be able to beat the bills.
December 4th, 2013 at 2:40 pm
Harry, are you implying 40 passes a game is too much and may be why Glennon had a bad performance?
Because it isn’t. Just count the number of passes he had when the mistakes occurred.
December 4th, 2013 at 2:52 pm
What surprised me about last night’s interview was how ‘candid’ (at times) Schiano was answering questions. I respected him for actually admitting that he 2nd guessed himself in some instances and that after the game, he thought to himself that HE didn’t coach a good game. You NEVER here coaches admit that, even if they really do think it. It made me respect him a little more because he gave the perception that he has realized that the teams failings are not just the fault of the players not executing this “brilliant” plan. He realizes, and surprisingly admits that he has not coached his best at times.
What still frustrates me however, is how long it is taking him to come to this realization. Then, once he’s realized it, why does it take equally as long to adjust? One could argue that he still hasn’t adjusted. Like I said… I gained more respect for him from what he said last night, BUT respect doesn’t = competent. The jury is still definitely out on whether he is competent enough to realize his missteps and take the appropriate steps to fix them.
December 4th, 2013 at 2:52 pm
We can play the panthers fifty times and we don’t win once: it’s a talent thing boys- no use to whing tampa bay this isn’t like auburn beating alabama
December 4th, 2013 at 3:04 pm
@John
The criticism on Schiano goes way past the Carolina game. We are 3-9 this season and have lost 16 of the last 20 games damn near. I agree, Carolina has better talent than us and could of, should of, and did win. However, the manner in which we lost is what pisses everybody off. We have lost very winnable games against both good and bad teams. Some of them his fault, some of them the players fault. Talent is an issue too, but to infer that is the main reason and an excusable issue for Schiano and his coaching is a stretch.
December 4th, 2013 at 3:17 pm
This team is filled with talent. Most of it is just injured right now.
December 4th, 2013 at 3:20 pm
btw…because this team does not quit…I’m thinking this week will be a win. I suspect Glennon will have a good day as well.
December 4th, 2013 at 3:32 pm
So when we swept the Panthers last year N Added players n the off season it was because we lack talent right??? 0_0
December 4th, 2013 at 3:33 pm
Stunts n zone n conservative play calling is our downfall
December 4th, 2013 at 3:36 pm
@Joe
Totally off topic, but I would be interested in getting Joe’s take on the rapidly depleting crop of QB prospects for this year’s draft. Mariota is staying at Oregon, Hundley may stay at UCLA. Seniors Murray and Mettenberger have torn ACLs. The depth of this QB class is shrinking fast.
I’m not one of the opinion that we should draft a QB in the 1st round, but for those that do, our draft positioning at this point will be even more crucial. Don’t you think?
December 4th, 2013 at 4:08 pm
@BuccaneerBonzai Says:
“Harry, are you implying 40 passes a game is too much and may be why Glennon had a bad performance? Because it isn’t. Just count the number of passes he had when the mistakes occurred.”
BB, there is no question, it is definitely too man passes. If I recall correctly, his first 4 games set a rookie record. Heck, Luck set a record last year for most pass attempts by a rookie QB at 657. At the rate he was going, Glennon would definitely challenge that record, and he is NOT Luck.
My comments were actually directed at Schianos coaching, not Glennons mistakes. Glennon had a bad game bc we had NO run game and the stinking Panthers D is freaking great.
December 4th, 2013 at 5:02 pm
There’s no question it’s too many passes for a rookie to be throwing in a game.
That implies a lopsided pass to run ratio which is never good.
And Joe on the interview you posted yesterday that guy whom I won’t say his name tried to imply the same thing to Schiano about not using all his tricks or resorting to a “bag of tricks”/ can he afford that and Schiano quickly put an end to that saying that he has no “bag of tricks” that that’s not what he meant.
December 5th, 2013 at 12:25 am
BuccaneerBonzai Says:
December 4th, 2013 at 3:17 pm
“This team is filled with talent. Most of it is just injured right now.”
Yes sir Bonzai….14 players on IR.